Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV called for greater global unity and denounced the dangers of uncontrolled capitalism and abuse of power during his inauguration mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the new pontiff, 69, addressed tens of thousands of people, including heads of state, from the Vatican on Sunday. He stated, “In our time, we still see too much division, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, fear of the other, and an economic model that exploits the earth’s resources and marginalizes the poor.”

In his opening message, Pope Leo emphasized his commitment to uniting the Church, believing that this cohesion could serve as a model for the world. The new pope, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, aspires for the Catholic Church to become a force for healing and reconciliation. The inaugural Mass marks the official beginning of his papacy, and since his election as the 267th pope by cardinals on May 8, he has repeatedly urged world leaders to work towards ending global conflicts. Recently, he even offered to make the Vatican a venue for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Pope Leo is perceived as a moderate, bridge-building figure, seen as capable of mediating between various factions within the Church. This ability is widely regarded as one of the reasons for his swift and surprising selection by the College of Cardinals.